VeohTV turns web surfing into channel surfing

VeohTV, the new software from Veoh Networks, is a web browser with a twist - it only displays Internet video.

The softfware, just out of beta testing, lists videos from sites that include Fox.com, NBC.com, and YouTube in a program guide and can play them either in a small window or fullscreen.

According to Veoh Networks chief executive Dmitry, “There are full-length episodes at Fox.com, but many customers don’t know how to find them. The Web browser is fine for short clips. But if you just want to sit back and watch video on the Web, this is what you will want to use.”

VeohTV's channels each represent a single website, allowing you to find episodes of shows like Heroes, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Bones, and 24. These shows are already offered on television network websites, but many viewers either aren't aware of it or don't know how to find them.

Shapiro would like to have advertising deals with content owners to make sure they have an incentive to provide high quality video online, he doesn't believe it's legally required since the videos are already available.

Veoh Networks' investors in the project include both Time Warner and former Disney chairman Michael Eisner, who is also on the board of directors.

Veoh Networks has operated their own video sharing site, Veoh.com for two years. Although similar to YouTube, it doesn't limit the length of videos or use any kind of digital fingerprinting to Filter out copyrighted material. The site has grown considerably since January, from 4.5 million visitors a month to 15 million, which is still nowhere near YouTube's 100 million.